Who are the important British Domestic Glass designers of the 20th century?

[Frank]

From British Glass Betwen the Wars - Drinkware, tableware. Excluded decorative. n.b. Nationality not indicated.

4. H.J. Powell  (BGBtW p53)
5. Gordon Russell  (BGBtW p54) knighthood in 1955 for services to design.
6. Walter Gilbert  (BGBtW p66)
7. Clyne Farquharson  (BGBtW p67)
8. Alexander H. Williamson  (BGBtW p79)
9. Reginald Gooden  (BGBtW p81)
10. Raymond McGrath with Elizabeth Craig  (BGBtW p82)
11. Homery Folkes  (BGBtW p87)
12. Ernest Procter  (BGBtW p93)
13. Dod Procter  (BGBtW p93)
14. Laura Knight  (BGBtW p94)
15. Eric Ravilious  (BGBtW p94)
16. Gordon Forsyth  (BGBtW p95)
17. Paul Nash  (BGBtW p96)
18. Herbert Webb (BGBtW p100)
19. Keith Murray  (BGBtW p89+ p102)
20. W J Wilson  (BGBtW p102)

What about glass designed by companies like Jules Lang and Clayton Mayers, who had the glass made overseas?
Of course, only Keith Murray was mentioned as an 'important designer' but then important is a somewhat vague term as it is often a value judgement. Perhaps he was inspired by Dod and Ernest Procter which presumably would make them important. FOOTNOTE - No chance, they were painters so probably only decorated the pieces in the Harrods Exhibition.

I potentially regard Raymond McGrath and his collaboration with Elizabeth Craig to be of great importance as his products might prove to be amongst the most commonly used and made in the largest volumes - but also because this was a collaboration of an end user and designer. FOOTNOTE Except he was an Australian 

[aa]

I think it would be a good idea to define what is meant by "domestic glass" in this context. Maybe Stephen should elucidate!

In one of Frank's posts above, he seemed to be suggesting that for the purpose of this discussion a vase is not "domestic", but that bottles are. So would that be wine bottles or bleach bottles? And perfume bottles, or is perfume not domestic?  Is there a difference between a perfume bottle that is used for packaging perfume, which may or may not be decorative depending on the imagination of the manufacturer of the perfume, coupled with the profile of the target market, and a perfume bottle that is designed to be used for decanting perfume or would that be decorative and therefore non-domestic?

Also, if we are to exclude decorative designers, should we also disregard domestic glass that is too decorative, or that has decorative qualities?

What about that 20th century icon, the ashtray? Is there a distinction between a domestic ashtray and a non-domestic one - ie, one produced say for pubs and restaurants?

Not entirely tongue-in cheek......

[Frank]

Not entirely tongue-in cheek......

Tut Adam! Nigel said it was an unambiguous question so we should accept that is the case and thus it relates to native designers of glassware designed for use in the home. That does, I suppose, answer my question about glass made abroad and with a company as the designer - clearly included as only designer nationality is stipulated.

Non-domestic ashtrays, ie advertising, hotel and bar ware, are excluded, my list did include at least one ashtray designer!

Perfumes are in my opinion mostly giftware, so excluded - who decants in this day and age when the container is of more importance than the contents! Yet in the past people could have taken their own suite of bottles to the perfumier for filling. Of course if perfumes are felt to be in we can include some Caithness designers - who are currently excluded.

Wine bottles are included in bottles and food containers, but while I can probably think of decoration designers finding who were the designers of bottles will be impossible. I would expect that the majority of domestic glassware, at least Post WW2, is designed by packaging companies design department. Advertising agencies are also designers of domestic packaging too but it can be almost impossible to work out who did what - unless, presumably, you trawl through archives of Packaging and Advertising trade journals.

Mostly only the designers of 'show pieces' or glass made for collectors are ever taken notice of - so it is good that an effort is being made to uncover the people and organisations that made the glass useable.

I still think that it would be beneficial to include non-Brits here - even if that goes beyond Stephens needs - due to the wide community we serve and also because many important design innovations were made by non-British nationals. It is also not always easy to determine the nationality of an individual as usually it is not a part of a mention of their name as designer. While Australian McGrath may have been an important designer of British Pyrex, there are many Pyrex designs that are American designs.

[nigel benson]

Hello,

"Nigel said it was an unambiguous question "

No, Frank I did not.

I said that I did not find it so. A little accuracy please.

I have proferred a few thoughts that I believed might help, sadly they appear not to have done :(. Never mind, let us wait for Stephen to pop by.

Nigel


PS. The group of us who went to help at the Museum yesterday felt the day was well spent and had a very enjoyable time handling and discussing the exhibits in the Nazeing room whilst giving the Nazeing collection a bit of an overhaul. Quite a privilege! I hope it was a help to Stephen.

[Frank]

Quite a privilege!

Indeed, lucky you!

As to the other, so you do think it is ambiguous? Confused  :huh:

Can anyone else add more names? The list as is, is almost empty of pre WW1 and poor after WW11

[Frank]

(PG adverts Aug 1935)

Royal Brierley Crystal
21. H Whitworth
22. R.S. Williams-Thomas
Stuart
23. L Kny
T Webb
24. Hom. Folkes

[nigel benson]

Hiya,

To answer your confusion Frank:

"Nigel said it was an unambiguous question "

This relates to the mis-interpretation you put on my comment in an earlier post.

I said that I did not find it so.

This relates to the original question put by Stephen - in that I do not find the question ambiuous.

I hope that clears the problem up



Good to see you putting in so many suggestions Frank BTW the names you obtained from the adverts are also in BGBtW

Royal Brierley Crystal:
 
21. H Whitworth              page 11 (again in an advert)
22. R.S. Williams-Thomas  page 11 (again in an advert)

Note. If anyone checks this out, the Keith Murray sherry set is the decanter and glasses at the front of the picture - so read from front to back. Mentioned as I have often spoken to people who have not noticed and have corrulated the items with the captions the wrong way round.

Stuart:

23. L Kny                       page 28 (essay) page 97, 98, etc

T Webb:

24. Hom. Folkes              page 87 - already mentioned in your previous post.


Cheers, Nigel

[Frank]

Can't anyone else add to this list?  :huh:

[David E]

Yes, but all rather Chance-centric! However, I'd prefer to release these details once the book is published. FYI, this is earmarked for the first week in December - yup, it's that close

[Frank]

 

[johnphilip]

How about H J Dunne-Cooke.You only have to look in the V&A And other Museums to see his work and how important his contribution was.

[Patrick]

 Hi, As the grandson of James Hogan I think I should put his name forward to be included on the list........
In 1936 along with Keith Murray,he was awarded the honor "Designer for Industry of the Royal Society of Arts", (abbreviated "R.D.I."). At that time he was chief glass designer at Whitefriars and a fruit bowl,water set and decanter are on display at the V@A. His 9280 Embassy wine suite was used in all British Embassies from 1949 up till 1966.
Best wishes Patrick.

[johnphilip]

 I agree with Patrick, his grandfather was also involved with Dunne- Cooke at Whitefriars and they came up with some great designs,D C also designed for a couple of major Swedish companies, but there is little info on him,I am sure at least one of you will put that right.

[Frank]

Good to see movement and more names!

[nigel benson]

OK, What about adding:

Edinburgh Crystal:

Helen Monro (later Monro-Turner)  Art Deco to Post Modernism - (pre-war)
DC Hewat                      Art Deco to Post Modernism - (pre-war)
AE Morris                       Art Deco to Post Modernism - (pre-war)
F Mungall                       Art Deco to Post Modernism - (pre-war)
V Trainer                       Art Deco to Post Modernism - (pre-war)
Alexander Chrichton         (pre-war)

Royal Brierley Crystal:

Deanne Meanley              Art Deco to Post Modernism - (post-war)
Tom Hill                         Art Deco to Post Modernism - (post-war)

Stuart & Sons:

AR (Reg) Pearce              Art Deco to Post Modernism - (pre-war)
John Luxton                    Art Deco to Post Modernism - (post-war)
Jasper Conran                 1990's onward

Stourbridge Glass Company(Tudor Crystal):

Harry Cuneen                  Art Deco to Post Modernism - (pre-war)

T. Webb:

Tom Pitchford                  BGBtW, Art Deco to Post Modernism
Doreen Norgrove              Art Deco to Post Modernism - (post-war)
David Hammond               Art Deco to Post Modernism - (post-war)

Waterford Crystal:

John Rocha                     1990's onward

Webb Corbett:

Freda M  Coleborn            Art Deco to Post Modernism - (pre-war)
Irene Stevens                 Art Deco to Post Modernism - (post-war)
David Smith                    Art Deco to Post Modernism - (post-war)
Len Green                       Art Deco to Post Modernism - (post-war)
David Queensberry           Art Deco to Post Modernism - (post-war)

Whitefriars:

Barnaby Powell                Whitefriars Glass, (Ed. L Jackson)
William Butler                  Whitefriars Glass, (Ed. L Jackson)
Joseph Francis                Whitefriars Glass, (Ed. L Jackson)
Tom Hill                         Whitefriars Glass, (Ed. L Jackson)
Peter Wheeler                 Whitefriars Glass, (Ed. L Jackson)

Bermondsey Glass:

Guy Underwood               Pre-war (These boards and my own research)

There are probably loads more, but I thought I'd add in a few that occurred to me and put in at least one reference about each, where possible.

Nigel